the essential
This Thursday, June 20, 9 days before the big start of the event, Visma-Lease a Bike formalized the participation of the outgoing double winner and his Belgian compatriot, both victims of significant falls this season.
They will be present on the starting line in Florence (Italy) on Saturday June 29. The Dane, Jonas Vingegaard, has not appeared in the race since his heavy fall at the Tour of the Basque Country at the beginning of April but is one of the eight riders selected, just like the Belgian Wout Van Aert, who was also the victim of a serious accident in the spring.
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The Frenchman Christophe Laporte, the Americans Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss, the Slovenian Jan Tratnik, the Dutchman Wilco Kelderman and the Belgian Tiesj Benoot complete the team for the Tour which will arrive on July 21 in Nice.
The moment we have all been waiting for. We are very happy to announce our Tour de France line-up. ⚜️?#limitlessthinking pic.twitter.com/Qmj2H9JinE
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) https://twitter.com/vismaleaseabike/status/1803739678660518265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“I can’t wait to start the Tour. The last few months haven’t been easy, but I thank my family and the Visma-Lease a bike team for their unfailing support. We have worked together for this moment, I feeling good and very motivated,” Vingegaard, 27, said in a statement from his team, which also announced a change of tunic.
Visma-Lease a Bike unveils its “Renaissance” jersey for the Tour de France, changing its tunic for the 4th year in a row, so that its traditional yellow is not confused with that of the race leader. #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/DhS0JiRkmI
— Le Gruppetto (@LeGruppetto) https://twitter.com/LeGruppetto/status/1803738280246042937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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Victim of fractures of the clavicle and several ribs, a pneumothorax and a pulmonary contusion during his fall in the Basque Country, Vingegaard spent twelve days in hospital and only got back on a bike for the first time as May 7.
“We remain cautious because he has not yet been able to race”
He has not participated in any race since but has prepared over the last two weeks during an altitude training course in Tignes with the rest of the team, while his great rival, Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, impressed during the month. last at the Giro.
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“He is coming back from a serious injury. In recent weeks, he has shown what a champion he is, both mentally and physically,” commented sporting director Merjin Zeeman. “Obviously, we don’t know how far he can go. We “Let’s be careful because he hasn’t been able to race yet and his preparation has been anything but ideal. But he will be there, healthy and motivated.”
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Wout Van Aert will also be there. The Belgian returned to competition in mid-May at the Tour of Norway after eight weeks of absence following his fall in Across Flanders on March 27 where he suffered fractures to his collarbone, sternum and seven ribs.
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The Tour de France “was not on the program” this year, recalled the winner of nine stages on the Grande Boucle, who was supposed to do the Tour of Italy before having to withdraw.
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“But, given the developments of recent weeks, I really wanted it and the team approved,” added the 29-year-old Belgian who will then aim for a medal at the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11). .
